Efficacy and Safety of Low-to-Moderate Dose Oral Corticosteroid Treatment in Ocular Myasthenia Gravis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the response to corticosteroid therapy as a primary treatment for ocular myasthenia gravis.

METHODS

Patients diagnosed as having ocular myasthenia gravis by an acetylcholine receptor binding antibody test between January 2011 and September 2015 were included in the study and started receiving treatment with a corticosteroid. Patients with a blowout fracture, hyperthyroidism, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, or history of strabismus surgery were excluded. Disappearance of diplopia and ptosis were considered a response to treatment.

RESULTS

Methylprednisolone therapy was administered to 29 patients (19 men and 10 women; average age: 49 ± 16.5 years) as an initial treatment. A total of 6 patients were lost to follow-up. Twenty-three of 29 patients (82.6%) were regarded as having presented a response to treatment. The average treatment duration was 3 weeks for patients responding to primary treatment. Eight patients complained of adverse effects from steroid therapy such as heartburn, insomnia, weight gain, and myalgia.

CONCLUSIONS

A corticosteroid could be considered as an initial treatment for patients diagnosed as having ocular myasthenia gravis by an acetylcholine receptor binding antibody test. [J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2018;55(5):339-342.].